Aerosol artists sue G&M to save 5Pointz

A group of artists is suing developer G&M Realty in an attempt to save 5Pointz, the famous Long Island City “graffiti mecca.” Last week, G&M was granted permission by the New York City Council to demolish the 200,000-square-foot industrial space at 22-44 Jackson Avenue and develop housing in its place.

The artists claim that the site contains over 350 original works of graffiti art that warrant preserving and that their destruction would violate copyright law and the Visual Artists Rights Act, according to Law360.

“Aerosol artists have traveled from as far away as Kazakhstan, Australia, Japan and Brazil for the opportunity to paint their works of visual art on 5Pointz,” the artists said in the complaint. “5Pointz is listed in every major guidebook covering New York City, and is included in over 100 international travel guides as well.”

G&M’s plans for the site call for two residential towers that would have 1,000 rental apartments, 30,000 square feet of public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space. [Law360] –Christopher Cameron